You're My GUITAR HERO....or, Stay Free

Joe Strummer Lives!  Joe Strummer lives in our head and our hearts.  Deeply infectious, he was "emo" before emo was.  [Emo is punk with only one emotion - sad.]  Riotous, he was DIY, doing more (and better!) with less.  Joe Strummer should be taught in school history classesas a champion of modern creativity.  If (since) there was a church devoted to St. Coltrane, then I'd love to say a novena to St. Joe.  He was looking out for us, all of us.  "It's the best years of your life they want to steal...."  I know that the story goes Joe's lack of guitar abilities was a derivation of crosstown traffic between left and right, but the truth is different.  He hoped that after a time we could get passed the great music and focus on the message.

STAY FREE
by The Clash

We met when we were in school
Never took no shit from no one, we weren't fools.
The teacher says we're dumb
We're only having fun
We piss on everyone...
In the classroom

When we got thrown out I left without much fuss
An' weekends We'd go dancing
Down Streatham on the bus

You always made me laugh,
Got me in bad fights,
playing pool all night,
Smokin' Menthol

I practiced daily in my room
You were down the Crown planning your next move
Go on a nicking spree,
Hit the wrong guy,
Each of you get three...
Years in Brixton!

I did my very best to write
How was Butlins?
Were the screws too tight?
When you lot get out,
We're gonna hit the town,
We'll burn it fuckin' down...
To a cinder!

'Cos years have passed and things have changed
And i move anyway i wanna go!
I'll never forget the feeling i got
When i heard that you were home!
An' I'll never forget the smile on my face
'Cos i knew where you would be!
An' if you're in the Crown tonight,
Have a drink on me,
But go easy... Step lightly... Stay free...